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Sunday, August 2, 2009

Mass Destruction and Governor Arnold Schwarzeneggerer

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger took a pen and turned it into a deadly weapon this week when for he elimated 100 percent of California's budget for domestic violence services through out the entire state.

Many victims whom require important survival services such as shelter, legal, transitional housing, counseling, advocacy for their orders of protection and direction on how to leave with their lives from the 94 agencies in the state will be faced with two options. The first is they will take to the streets because the violence is life threatning in their home and they will become homeless. Currently, an estimated 50% of all victims of violence are either on the streets or seek assistance from orgnaizations such as the salvation army.

The second alternative in not an option, the women will be murdered in their own homes because a politican has erased an important component for victims to survive, basic services. And we must not forget the burden then to the legal system that will not be able to provide protection under the law as the victims will be unable to return to their homes once they press charges for the often near death violence in their own homes.

The passage of the existing law for victims of violence in this county were signed not with a pen of ink, but with a pen of blood for all those whose cries for help fell on deaf ears. Women like my mother who was murdered before laws were passed.

In removing these important dollars you provide another criminal perk for the offenders. The violent offender will use the removal of services to their advantage over the victims, knowing the individual has no place to seek assistance.

There is a reserve set aside by Governor Schwarzenegger of $500 million dollars. If he does not have a change of heart and reverse his decision then money should be set aside for the victims that will require proper burial services after they end up in a morgue because a former actor turned politican thinks the ending of women's lives is not important.

VAWA funds are federal, not state funds. As far as I know the Gov can’t and hasn’t cut those.The California Partnership to End DV - their statewide coalition is working w/legislators to find possible solutions. They’re also working w/others whose program areas were cut to see if the Gov’s actions are legal. The second link above mentions a bit about that..

March 31, 2009 Multiple Murders and SuicideLast Updated by Cathy on Apr 7SANTA CLARA, Calif. – A father is suspected of killing his two children and three other relatives before taking his own life in an upscale neighborhood of Silicon Valley where the family had recently moved.Residents of the Valley View Apartments at 2100 Valley View Parkway called 911 around 6:15 p.m. Saturday about gunshots, according to the El Dorado County Sheriff&apos;s Department.

Deputies who responded found Cecilia Rivera, 27, of El Dorado Hills, who died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds, a sheriff&apos;s news release states.

Deputies also found Rioux, Rivera&apos;s estranged husband, with a gunshot wound to his head, said sheriff&apos;s spokesman Sgt. Bryan Golmitz.

The shootings are believed to be an isolated incident between the couple, who had a history of domestic violence, Golmitz said.The shooting was the first homicide of the year in El Dorado County.

REDWOOD CITY — A 53-year-old man known as the "Gilligan Robber" for committing a string of bank robberies while wearing a floppy fisherman&apos;s hat was sentenced Monday to 12 years in state prison for the fatal stabbing of his wife.Robert Lomas, who was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in April for the May 2007 death of 50-year-old Linda Lomas, whom he had known since they were both 16, sat at the defense table in an orange jail jumpsuit and did not make a statement.Before the sentencing, Lomas&apos; defense attorney, Richard Keyes, asked San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Clifford Cretan to consider Lomas&apos; good behavior in jail for the past two years. He said the killing of his wife was committed in "deep passion," because Lomas thought his wife was cheating on him."The rage that occurred on May 21 was a product of a long spiral," said Keyes, who had argued during the trial that Lomas robbed banks in an attempt to buy back his wife&apos;s affection.Prosecutor Ivan Nightengale, however, told Cretan that Lomas&apos; explosive temper is exactly why he deserves a long sentence."Mr. Lomas&apos; inability to control his rage is the whole reason we&apos;re here," Nightengale said. "It&apos;s what led to the untimely death of his wife."Nightengale also referred to Lomas&apos; testimony during the trial, in which he described punching his wife so hard her dentures fell out before stabbing her to death.After he stabbed her, Lomas testifiedhe then "left her in a pool of her own blood," took her cell phone and walked to a nearby store to buy a pack of cigarettes. Then he called 911 to report his wife&apos;s death — but not to summon help to save her, Nightengale said.After the sentencing, juror Susan Mairs, of Menlo Park, said she had wanted Lomas to be convicted of second-degree murder and was appalled at his sentence.She said that among members of the jury, she had felt the most strongly that Lomas committed second-degree murder, but said she agreed to convict him of voluntary manslaughter to avoid a mistrial.Lomas&apos; sentence also includes time for his conviction on seven felony counts of robbery. Lomas was known as the "Gilligan Robber" for robbing eight banks in San Carlos, Redwood City, Mountain View and Newark, all while wearing a distinctive, floppy hat that served to obscure his face in security-camera footage.With credit for time served, Lomas will likely serve fewer than 10 years in prison, Nightengale said.

I am too shocked to say anything. The shelters and assistance women receive is vital to their safety. My prayers and hope go out to all CA abused spouses that somehow they find safety from their abuse-

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